Category Archives: Chiropractic

November is indeed a month where we take a good look at all of the things we’re grateful for. Expressing gratitude is something we encourage practicing year round, and even daily, to maintain a sense of humility and balance, which can be a huge boost to support our mental and spiritual health. There are so many ways we can do this, from vocal expression to written word, and even in our meditation practice. But the key is to really FEEL gratitude when we’re expressing it! And making this a ritual doesn’t have to be a daunting or overbearing task, you can simply think it or say it with the littlest things such as when someone holds the door open for you or when you and your family arrive home safely after a trip. At the end of the day, the little things we are grateful for are just as important as the bigger stuff, if not more so.

While we’re on the topic, it’s extra important to remember to carry that sense of gratitude over into the holiday season, especially during all the hustle and bustle that inevitably surrounds us during this time of year.

Here’s a little idea…set an intention to carry this sense of grace and gratitude with you throughout the season in an effort to stay mindful of all the little things that mean so much. Every day make an effort to list at least 3 things you’re grateful for to help you stay grounded and truly feel the magic of the holiday spirit!

We have so much to be thankful for here at Sage Health so we thought it’d be fun to compile a list of 10 things we’re grateful for and share it with you…

Our absolutely amazing clients and patients, we wouldn’t be here without you!

Sage Health is a holistic wellness center in Encinitas, California founded by Chiropractor, Dr. Kirsten Sage. We specialize in advanced chiropractic, acupuncture and massage treatments. We are focused on helping patients with natural alternatives to optimal health and wellness.

Isn’t it amazing that something as simple and seemingly benign as thoughts can have a huge impact on our health?

We can truly defeat ourselves by negative thinking. A hurtful past criticism can take hold and shape our self-views. This can impact our decisions, communications, and alter the outcome of events in our life’s journey.

So, NO stinkin’ thinkin’… Here are a few life lessons I’ve learned and want to share with you so that you too can be the best version of yourself.

Sticks and Stones

Often, when someone says something hurtful or seriously inappropriate to you, those words are about them, not you. One of the most damaging weapons is the human tongue. When we internalize hurtful words we can allow them to negatively affect our physiology. Fortunately, the best defense against these weapons is alive and well in all of us.

Here’s an example of how words can affect health at meal time. For good health and nutrition, you need to be in parasympathetic nervous system mode which equals proper rest and digest. If you are having a heated discussion during mealtime your stress may cause a stomach ache because a lot of the blood has left your stomach and gone to your muscles to prepare your body to fight. If that stress persists for weeks, month, or years eventually you may end up with a full blown digestive disease like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) Hint hint… arguing during a meal disrupts digestion. Don’t let this ripple into a health issue…only eat when you are relaxed.

Stress Management

OHM my Goddess — stress is okay to experience for a short amount of time, but damaging to your health for a prolonged amount of time. Why? Because it depletes your immune system. Your immune system is a super power constantly warding off viruses, bacteria, and even cancer cells. When you feel overwhelmed ask yourself, “is there something that I need to do right now that will make a positive change in my life and help release these negative stressors?” If the answer is yes… this is exactly what your stress helped to accomplish. Alternately, if you can’t sleep at night and are overwhelmed with worry and are not being proactive finding solutions to your problems stress is hurting your health and you need to seek additional help in finding solutions.

Here’s the take home… – the defense against harmful words and stress is YOU!

You have the control over how you react to a stressful situation. You choose (whether you are aware of it or not) your response, isn’t that wonderful? Let go of what does not serve you, and be grateful for all the wonder and gifts you have.You have a responsibility to make our world a better place by shining your light and sharing all the love.

So if things are just not working out remember this, and go grab a dandelion (it’s okay if it is imaginary, get in a nice cross sit yoga pose, and blow that dandy in the wind and say, “just let that shit go.”

And, know that you control your reaction to stress and continue to shine your brilliant light!

Sage Health is a holistic wellness center in Encinitas, California founded by Chiropractor, Dr. Kirsten Sage. We specialize in advanced chiropractic, acupuncture and massage treatments. We are focused on helping patients with natural alternatives to optimal health and wellness.

The title of this blog couldn’t be more apropos given recent events at Sage Health as we are absolutely celebrating a huge transition from facing some very recent adversity.

Here’s what happened…

We were happy to celebrate the recent rainy weather given the serious California drought conditions, we just didn’t think that meant it would literally rain in our office!

In early March, a pipe burst in the suite above us and the Sage Health office became a disastrous flood zone. Stress doesn’t even begin to describe how we felt. How on earth were we going function as a business?! Our staff needed to work, and our clients needed treatments! Our heads were spinning but we banded together, rolled up our sleeves and faced the adversity head-on — focusing on how we could turn this negative into a positive.

And we did just that!

Immediately, we found a way to maintain business as usual, as best we could, in what was left of the usable space in our current office. We were also lucky enough to temporarily rent the empty space next door to continue offering massage, acupuncture and skin care services. We were beyond grateful that we were able to make it work while we got down to planning how we would renovate the damaged space.

Here’s where the fun part comes into all the madness. In the renovation planning process, we had this “Aha!” moment that our space really needed some adjustments to accommodate our services that required a quieter environment, such as, massage, acupuncture, skin care, etc. As our current clients will recall, all of these services were previously given in the front rooms near the reception and patient waiting area, which in hindsight wasn’t ideal — though we made it work.

So we decided that the front rooms near the reception and waiting area would be used for chiropractic treatments; while the back office space would be transformed into a tranquil spa-like setting where it’s much quieter (and serene!) to more effectively accommodate our services that require this type of setting such as massage, acupuncture, skincare, and other bodywork treatments.

It’s funny how things work out sometimes. While we certainly wouldn’t have wished for the flood to have happened, it did drive us to improve how our space functions for our clients and staff. We were forced to deal with a disastrous moment of adversity that led us to transition into something that our business truly needed…yet who knows when or if we would’ve ever come to that realization without it!

Lesson learned and we are truly grateful.

We also want to thank YOU our wonderful patients who bore with us and supported us during the transition. We wouldn’t be here without you!

So for the month of May, we’re offering $10 OFF ANY SERVICE! Chiropractic, Chirosage, Fire Cupping, Acupuncture, Massage, Skin Care, etc. This offer isn’t applicable towards insurance co-pays or deductibles but if you’re on our wellness program or a cash patient, you are able to take advantage of this offer.

Thank you again and if you haven’t come in to see our newly renovated space, please come see us!

Sage Health is a holistic wellness center in Encinitas, California founded by Chiropractor, Dr. Kirsten Sage. We specialize in advanced chiropractic, acupuncture and massage treatments. We are focused on helping patients with natural alternatives to optimal health and wellness.

At Sage Health we offer a full spectrum of integrative health offerings from chiropractic to acupuncture, massage, organic facials, nutritional counseling and much more. One thing we’ve added to our list of services in the ZYTO Scan.

ZYTO Scanning has been gaining momentum in the holistic health realm and it’s easy to see why. The amount of information you and your practitioner can gain from a single reading is profound.

So what is the ZYTO Scan and how does it work?

The ZYTO Scan is conducted utilizing a technology that measures skin fluctuations in the skin, which is referred to as the galvanic skin response, or GSR. Lie detector testing is a form of GSR. When the scan is conducted the ZYTO technology utilizes information that is relayed via an array of biocommunication principles and concepts that offer some deeply insightful information in regards to one’s health and wellness. Many practitioners will use it to gain a variety of information including detecting food sensitivities, determining environmental and mental stressors, and even offering beneficial aromatherapy treatments.

Will the ZYTO Scan procedure hurt? How long will it take?

Not at all. The process is simple, painless and can be performed in as little as 3 minutes. The duration of the scan varies, it all depends on the information your practitioner is looking to receive.

Your hand will be placed on the ZYTO hand cradle while the scan is performed. In a subtle manner, small energetic pulses will be introduced to your body while the scan is being conducted. The body responds naturally during the process and the ZYTO software records how your body responds. Some people report feeling a slight tingling or zing from the energetic communication but the sensation is never uncomfortable. Most people don’t feel a thing.

What happens after the ZYTO Scan is performed?

Your practitioner will review your results with you and offer a course of treatment to help you on your path to overall health and wellness.

Book your ZYTO Scan appointment with Dr. Kirsten Sage today using our online booking system or by giving us a call.

Sage Health is a holistic wellness center in Encinitas, California founded by Chiropractor, Dr. Kirsten Sage. We specialize in advanced chiropractic,acupuncture and massage treatments. We are focused on helping patients with natural alternatives to optimal health and wellness. We are located at 531 Encinitas Blvd. Suite 100, Encinitas, CA 92024. Email: health@sagehealthonline.com | PH: 760.753.2157

If you’re a patient at Sage Health, you already know that we aim of offer a variety of treatments to help with optimum healing and sustained wellness. From chiropractic to massage, acupuncture, fire cupping, nutritional counseling, and even organic facial treatments, we truly have something for everyone to help them feel their best. Adding to our list of beneficial offerings is the healing treatment of Cold Laser Therapy.

What is Cold Laser Therapy?

Cold Laser Therapy is a special modality that Dr. Sage likes to incorporate into her treatments to further promote the overall healing process. This therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to interact with compromised soft tissue, which is believed to increase circulation and further enhance the body’s ability to heal. Cold Laser Therapy is commonly used for acute and chronic conditions in an effort to help decrease pain, reduce inflammation, and alleviate spasms.

How Does Cold Laser Therapy Work?

The cold laser is administered via a small handheld device that emits a focused concentration of light. The laser device is held directly over the affected area for a short period of time, anywhere from seconds to minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated and the power of the laser.

The light therapy goes through the skin and the theory is that it activates small molecules in our cells called chromophores. These little chromophores create energy similar to the way photosynthesis works in plants. To further illustrate this point, plants grow when they receive energy from the sun during photosynthesis, light then activates chloroplasts to make glucose molecules causing plants to grow. In a similar fashion, molecules in our bodies activated by laser therapy stimulate healing of damaged tissues and are theorized to activate acupoints along the meridians (energy pathways) within the body.

Dr. Sage is a devout study of the ancient healing arts of acupuncture. She regularly incorporates her knowledge of the meridian pathways into her gentle, and uniquely specific chiropractic treatments in an effort to help her patients receive even greater overall benefits in the healing process.

Why is it Called Cold Laser Therapy?

Simply because the laser does not heat-up nor can it cause any damage your soft tissues. It does not in actuality feel uncomfortably cold on the skin.

Is Cold Laser Therapy Right for Me?

If you’re coming to Sage Health for chiropractic, acupuncture or massage treatments, Cold Laser Therapy could very well offer a boost in benefit to help relieve pain, and enhance your healing process. If you are interested, just let us know prior to your next visit so we can allot the necessary time in your appointment for Dr. Sage to conduct an evaluation and recommend the best course of treatment specifically for you.

How Many Cold Laser Therapy Treatments Will I Need?

Each person is unique and therefore requires a different course of treatment. In some cases, Cold Laser Therapy is needed for 2 weeks at a frequency of 3 times a week for maximum benefit.

How Much Does Cold Laser Therapy Cost?

At Sage Health the cost for Cold Laser Therapy is $10 per treatment as an add-on service.

Sage Health is a holistic wellness center in Encinitas, California founded by Chiropractor, Dr. Kirsten Sage. We specialize in advanced chiropractic,acupuncture and massage treatments. We are focused on helping patients with natural alternatives to optimal health and wellness. We are located at 531 Encinitas Blvd. Suite 100, Encinitas, CA 92024. Email: health@sagehealthonline.com | PH: 760.753.2157

The 2016 Summer Olympics has been so much fun to watch! We especially love to see all the coverage on the ways in which the athletes are taking care of their bodies while enduring what we can only imagine involves an intense and grueling amount of training. One thing in particular that has gained a lot of attention is a treatment we offer at Sage Health called, fire cupping.

Athletes such as Michael Phelps and Alex Naddour have both showcased numerous large red circular spots on their shoulders and back — an almost ghastly visual of what fire cupping is known to produce. While these spots may look like the aftermath of some sort of torture device, we can assure you the treatment (when performed properly by a licensed practitioner) is actually quite soothing, for most. In fact, this ancient Chinese medicine practice is meant to be extremely healing and rehabilitative.

What is Fire Cupping and What Does it Do?

Traditional Chinese medicine (AKA as TCM) describes cupping as a method in which a vacuum is created on one’s skin to resolve and dissipate stagnation in the body to improve the flow of qi (free flowing life force). In this case, stagnation might exist in the blood and lymphatic system. The suction created (from inside the cups) is known to loosen muscles and produce a mild sedation and relief to the nervous system, offering relief of muscle stiffness and pain. Additional benefits are known to reduce feelings of anxiety, as well as aid with rheumatism, and fatigue. That’s only a small glimpse of what this treatment can help with.

Fire cupping is often married with acupuncture or massage, but not always. It all depends on the needs of the patient. At Sage Health, we pair it with a treatment known as Tui Na — a form of ancient Chinese therapeutic massage, which utilizes a variance of techniques where a type of rhythmic compression is moved along different energy channels of the body to create a harmonious flow of qi in an effort to create positive balance.

Will Fire Cupping hurt?

Typically, fire cupping is painless when performed properly by a licensed professional. Most of our patients find it quite relaxing. Some report a mild sensation of suction, pressure, or heat.

How is Fire Cupping Performed?

There are a number of different ways to perform fire cupping. At Sage Health we commonly use the traditional glass cups.

Curious what it looks like? Click here to view a short video of a Dr. Kirsten Sage performing the procedure on a patient who was experiencing some shoulder pain in the upper and mid-back.

Why Are Some Spots Redder Than Others?

This is a common question, and there are a variety of answers. The short answer is that the more redness that is brought to the surface of the skin, the more it was needed to expel stagnation, increase blood flow, and release toxins. Your practitioner can explain further based on your specific needs and reason for the treatment.

Marks left on Sage Health patient’s upper back after fire cupping treatment to help relieve shoulder pain.

Is Fire Cupping Right for Me?

While we recognize the incredible benefits fire cupping can offer, whether or not it’s right for you is something to absolutely discuss with your health practitioner.

Sage Health is a holistic wellness center in Encinitas, California founded by Chiropractor, Dr. Kirsten Sage. We specialize in advanced chiropractic,acupuncture and massage treatments. We are focused on helping patients with natural alternatives to optimal health and wellness. We are located at 531 Encinitas Blvd. Suite 100, Encinitas, CA 92024. Email: health@sagehealthonline.com | PH: 760.753.2157

As we emerge from our mild Southern California winter we’re ready for the longer, warmer days to come. While the extra hour of sunshine is, of course, something we look forward to, (initially) losing that extra hour of sleep often takes some adjustment.

Our best advice is to be gentle with yourself.

It’s important to ease into the time change by aiming to go to bed a little earlier, and maybe even slowing down a bit on extracurricular activities within the first week to give yourself some time to acclimate. This is easier said than done, though. We know!

Bottom line is that you need to take care of YOU.

Here are some helpful ways we can offer to help you with the time transition…from the solace of winter to the vibrant days of spring.

Dr. Sage offers Bach Herbal Remedies at her office to help clients with a number of ailments and issues — be it mental or physical.

Some clients require a blend that is created especially for them (by Dr. Sage), others may prefer to choose a single type of tincture to suit a specific need. Remedies range in spectrum from helping individuals with allergies to aiding others with mental clarity and overcoming emotional challenges.

Unsure which one is right for you? Book an appointment with Dr. Sage and she’ll work with you to create your very own personal blend.

Essential oils are rising in popularity, and for good reason. Many have attested to their ability to help with a variety things; from air purification and relaxation to maintaining focus and even helping to relieve seasonal allergies. The benefits reported are endless.

At Sage Health, we proudly offer essential oil blends from Nectar Essences. We wholeheartedly trust the essential oil blends they produce. In addition to adhering to strict GC-MS testing to ensure purity, they use absolutely no synthetic fragrances, no parabens, no phthalates, nothing artificial in any of our products. To learn more about Nectar Essences click here. Come into our office and check out our selection of the Breath Me product line, which features the popular Super-Immunity, Destress and Unwind, and Decongest Immunity blends.

Book a Treatment

Whatever your preference, booking a massage, acupuncture or chirosage treatment can help put a little extra spring in your step to celebrate the new season.

Acupuncture, for example, can be extremely helpful for those who suffer from seasonal allergies.

Massage restores blood flow to the body while also helping your muscles and lymphatic system to release stress inducing toxins, among other things.

During the month of March, we’re offering two special treatments to help you feel your best!

The Ultimate Trio Treatment*:: Come see us for a 90-minute treatment that will include a blend of acupuncture, chiropractic and massage for only $150! *This special will run through March and April.

$25 OFF a Chirosage Session:: Book a 30 or 60-minute chirosage treatment during the month of March and receive $25 off! If you’re curious about this treatment, this is the perfect opportunity to experience it. We blend chiropractic and massage into one beneficial session that works with your schedule. For more information on the benefits read our blog about it here.

Remember to Factor in a Chiropractic Adjustment

We understand that with the time change, spring break, and tax time coming up, your to-do list will be an overwhelming one. So if one of the treatments mentioned above simply isn’t in the cards, we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make time for a chiropractic adjustment.

During times of high stress, our joints tend to lock up and cause misalignment, which then leads to lack of circulation and blood flow throughout the body. This can (and will) only make things worse. So please make time to help yourself stay at the top of your game, both mentally and physically, with an adjustment, or two.

Sage Health is a holistic wellness center in Encinitas, California founded by chiropractor, Dr. Kirsten Sage. We specialize in advanced chiropractic, acupuncture and massage treatments. We are focused on helping patients with natural alternatives to optimal health and wellness. We are located at 531 Encinitas Blvd. Suite 100, Encinitas, CA 92024. Email: health@sagehealthonline.com | PH: 760.753.2157

We all love getting a massage and know how beneficial it can be if we pair it with other therapeutic treatments such as chiropractic and acupuncture.

For some time now, Sage Health has been offering Chirosage treatments, which meld both chiropractic and massage into one service.

While Chirosage has been growing in popularity with our clients, we understand that this service may still leave some people wondering what it is, and furthermore, why they should consider booking a session. So we thought it might help to explain and outline the benefits of it to give insight to anyone who might be interested in this healthful therapeutic treatment.

Enhanced Alignment

If you’re a regular customer of Sage Health, you’re familiar with the common treatments we offer prior to your adjustment — rolling table, heat, percussion, etc. These elements are meant to help you relax and relieve tension. By helping you to relax, your muscles and joints, in turn, become easier to work with thereby enhancing the integrity of your chiropractic adjustment. Now imagine taking that pre-adjustment phase a big step further — this is what you get with a Chirosage.

We start with a massage treatment that is tailored specifically to you. This also gives your chiropractor a chance to literally feel where the particular points of issue are on your body by massaging the surrounding soft tissue and muscles. It allows them to pinpoint these areas and work them out in an effort to relieve excess tension and stress. It also provides them with an enhanced understanding of what needs to happen with your chiropractic adjustment. This only further augments their awareness of your body’s needs and helps them to determine the best course of action to bring your body back into balance. Once the massage portion is complete, your body has become much more malleable — thereby making it so the muscles and joints are ready to release fully and allow your body to align (with ease) during your chiropractic adjustment.

Time Saver

The other benefit of a Chirosage is that it can be considered a time saver since you’re getting both your massage and chiropractic adjustment in one service. At Sage Health, we offer Chirosage treatments in increments of 20, 30, and 60, minute sessions. Often times, patients only have time for one service or the other on any given day. While we’d all love to book an hour-long massage along with an adjustment afterward, this may not be realistic for everyone’s schedule. With Chirosage, you get the best of both worlds in an ideal time-frame that works for you.

For more information about Chirosage, or to book an appointment, please give us a call.

Sage Health is a holistic wellness center in Encinitas, California founded by chiropractor, Dr. Kirsten Sage. We specialize in advanced chiropractic, acupuncture and massage treatments. We are focused on helping patients with natural alternatives to optimal health and wellness. We are located at 531 Encinitas Blvd. Suite 100, Encinitas, CA 92024. Email: health@sagehealthonline.com | PH: 760.753.2157